Book-cover protector.



' No. 633,375. Patented Sept. I9, I899.

E. T. COVELL. 800K COVER PROTECTOR.

(Applicltio 9,

led June 13, 189

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NI D STATES PAT NT OFFICE.

EDVARD T. COVELL, OF NElV BEDFQRD, MASSACHUSETTS.

BOOK-COVER PROTECTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 633,375, dated September 19, 1899.

Application filed June 13, 1899.

1"0 (LZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD T. COVELL, a. citizen of the United States, residing at New Bedford, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Book-Cover Protectors; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The present invention has relation to that class of devices constructed of metal and adapted for attachment to a book-cover to protect the same from being injured and preserve the edges of the cover against wear. Previous to my invention it was usually the practice to permanently secure this metal protector to the book-cover, and consequently it required skilled labor to apply and remove it from the cover, the removal of the protector in many instances damaging the cover or injuring the protector to that extent as to render it useless for further service on other covers. In bank and account books, where they .are usually provided with duck covers, it is necessary to remove the duck covers from the leather covers of the books after they be come soiled for the purpose of cleaning them, and in such a case it is also necessary to remove the metal protector to enable the duck cover to be detached. It is the purpose of this invention to provide a metal protector for the edge of the book-cover that can be readily attached or removed, as circumstances require, and can be conveniently used with the ordinary duck cover and removed without damage to the cover.

The invention consists in a book-cover protector constructed substantially as shown in the drawings and hereinafter describedand claimed.

Figure l of the drawings is a perspective.

. view showing the edge of a book-cover with my improved protector applied thereto; Fig. 2, a perspective View in detail of the protector; Fig. 3, a plan view of theedge of. the bookcover, showing a modified form of protector secured thereto; Fig. 4, a detail view in perspective of the modified form of the protector shown in Fig. 3.

In the accompanying drawings, A repre- Serial No.720,3'79. (No model.)

sents a portion of a book-cover, and B the protector, preferably constructed of. spring metal and secured to the edge of the cover to preserve it against wear, the protector comprising a strip of metal of any desirable thickness and width found best adapted to the purpose. Unlike the protectors or guards in common use, the protector B does not overlap or project beyond the sides of the bookcover, but extends along the edge only, it being of a width equal to or slightly less than the thickness of the cover. Where the me tallic guard or protector extends beyond 'or over and upon the sides of the book-cover, it is objectionable, as when the book is laid down fiat upon a desk and moved about the exposed portion of the guard or protector will come directly in contact with the surface of the desk and scratch or otherwise injure it. A further objection to that class of metallic guards or protectors which extend over and upon the outer sides of the book-cover is in danger of injury to the cover of the book next to it when placed upon the shelf. In taking down or replacing the. books upon the shelves the protectors which extend over and upon the'outer sides of the covers will rub against and wear the cover of the book next to it, thereby rendering such protectors ob jectionable on account of the covers becoming worn and ragged. The metallic protector B, as will be seen, does not in any manner extend beyond or overlap the sides of the cover, and consequently these objections are entirely removed.

The edges of the protector may be formed slightly rounded, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and at both ends of the protector are spurs or pins adapted to enter the edge of the book-cover to secure the protector thereto.

The protector B, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, has one of its spurs 61. extend ing at an acute angle to the protector in contradistinction to a right angle, thereby forming ahook shape to the pin or spur. The opposite end of the protector B may be bent at substantially right angles, in which case the pin or spur, as shown at a, would be parallel with the protector. In such case the protector will extend over one corner of the book-cover, the protector being preferably of spring metal, the pin or spur upon the opposite end of the protector being sprung into place and held in place by the spring action of the metal.

In Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings a modified form of the protector is shown atv 0, having the hook-shaped pins or spurs a at its ends, and, if preferred, one or more spurs I) may be provided to enter the edge of the book-cover as an additional means of attachment.

The protector constructed as above described requires no skilled labor to attach it to the book-cover and may be as readily detached and removed and used upon other covers or replaced upon the old ones, as circumstances require.

The protector not projecting beyond the sides of the cover or extending over and upon the sides of the same, there will be no exposed metal to injure the cover of the book next to it when replacing or removing the books from the shelf, or when the book is laid down flat upon a desk there is no metal that will come in contact therewith to scratch or mar the same.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A protector for the covers of books, consisting of a strip of metal of uniform width throughout its length with flat sides and having its extremities terminating in hooks or spurs for attachment to the edge of the bookcovcr, one of said hooks or spurs being disposed at an acute angle to the protector substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A book-cover provided with a protector consisting of a strip of metal of a width not greater than the thickness of the cover so that it will not project beyond the sides thereof, said protector having spurs at its extremities which enter the edge of the cover, one of said spurs being disposed at an acute angle to the protector substantially as and for the purpose specified.

A protector for the covers of books, consisting of a strip of metal of uniform Width throughout its length and with flat sides and having one of its ends extending at substantially a right angle thereto and terminating in an inwardly-extending pin or spur, and the opposite end of the protector having a pin or spur at an acute angle thereto, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD T. COVELIJ.

Witnesses:

ALBERT C. WELcH, 'JAMEs Eon. 

